Our strategy
Our vision, purpose and strategy as a world-leader in composites.
Richard Oldfield, CEO
"We are industry's research and development partner. When companies need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable they come to the NCC. With access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, we help our customers solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time."
Our Story
The National Composites Centre was created as the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Composites Research and Development following the inclusion of this disruptive technology into government industrial strategy. Our task: to be recognised as a world leader in composite technology, accelerating the development and uptake of digital technologies for sustainable composites and growing the market for composites by driving innovation through collaboration and partnerships.
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Why choose composites?
Lightweight, strong, durable and adaptable, the unique properties of composites help us to design and make better products with less waste that last longer.
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Meet the team
The NCC leadership team has extensive engineering and commercial experience across industry sectors.
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Membership at the NCC
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Academic reach
The NCC works proactively with universities across the UK and overseas in a number of ways to pull through fundamental research to industrial applications.
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Cross-Catapult programmes
We work closely with partners across the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and wider UK Catapult Network on collaborative projects.
Our networks
High Value Manufacturing Catapult
The NCC is proud to be one of seven centres that makes up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which is itself one of nine Catapults created as a key tool in Innovate UK’s range of innovation support for businesses. Each Catapult is focused on an area in which the UK has the potential to grow in strategically important global markets.
Composites Leadership Forum
The National Composites Centre is a pivotal member of the UK’s Composite Leadership Forum which works to influence the Government and other bodies to bring together support for composites and ensure growth and industrial success for the UK. It is chaired and led by industry.
Composites UK Trade Association
The NCC also is a board member of Composites UK Trade Association, fully supporting its mission to encourage continuous growth and development of the industry, promoting the best practice use of composites materials. We work closely to bring companies throughout the composites supply chain together, creating a unified voice to drive the industry forward to the benefit all of those involved.
Our Members
Our latest news
Case Study
Opinion
News
Opinion
News
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Bigger structure. Fewer parts. Smaller cost
01 Feb 2023To show the art of the possible, a specialist team of engineers at the National Composites Centre have developed a large modular composite structure demonstrator, showcasing technologies that achieved lower-cost manufacturing and reduced part count and cost of operation for large structures in safety-critical applications. -
IStructE guide to the structural use of fibre polymer composites
31 Jan 2023The National Composites Centre is pleased to announce that it has contributed to The Institution of Structural Engineers publication on the 'Structural use of fibre polymer composites', launched on 31st January 2023. NCC contributing authors include; Neil Appleton, Tom Farrance, Kunal Kansara and Ffion Rhodes. -
Applications open for EngD studentships
20 Jan 2023The National Composites Centre (NCC) and Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture (IDC) are seeking high calibre candidates to take up one of five fully funded EngD studentships. -
Ultra high-rate composite deposition system on track to beat lay-up target by 75%
09 Jan 2023How do we deliver a step-change in the volume of composite material we can deposit at any given time? It is one of the key challenges we’re tackling at the NCC – and we’ve made significant progress. Read our blog by Mark Bowering, NCC’s Chief Engineer for Civil Air Structures. -
National Composites Centre participates in Horizon Europe GREEN-LOOP project
02 Jan 2023The National Composites Centre (NCC) is delighted to announce its participation in the GREEN-LOOP project, funded under the Horizon Europe Programme, which will focus on developing novel bio-based materials utilising sustainable manufacturing methods.
